St. Lucie County leaders promote benefits of half-cent sales tax increase

PORT ST. LUCIE, Fla. - St. Lucie County leaders are urging voters to approve a half-cent sales tax increase in November in an effort to fund multiple projects.

If approved, it would bring the sales tax rate up to 7 percent and generate about $18.6 million a year for the county. The current sales tax rate is 7 percent in Indian River and Palm Beach counties.

Officials said the increased revenue would be spent on better roads, more sidewalks and cleaner rivers in St. Lucie County, Port St. Lucie, Fort Pierce and St. Lucie Village. 

"The Board of County Commissioners agreed to place this proposed half-cent sales tax increase on the November ballot with the full support of our elected leaders from the cities of Fort Pierce and Port St. Lucie. It is extremely encouraging to see all of our municipal partners working together to explain and educate the residents about these projects that are needed throughout their neighborhoods,” said St. Lucie County Commission Chair Frannie Hutchinson in a written statement.

The proposed tax would not apply to gas, groceries or medicine. For large expenses, such as automobile or boat purchases, the tax would only be applied to the first $5,000 of the purchase.

The proposal will be item No. 14 on November's ballot.

RELATED LINK: http://slchalfcent.org/

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